Top 5 Game of Thrones Characters

It's March. That means we're less than a month away from the highly anticipated return of HBO's fantasy drama, Game of Thrones. Author and creator of the series, George R.R. Martin, never saw the books' potential for television success. In fact, he originally tried to dissuade HBO from adapting the fantasy series, claiming "It's too big. It's too complicated. It's too expensive." A big reason why the series was so "big" and "complicated" was due to its hordes of diverse, multidimensional characters. Lucky for Throne fans around the world, George R.R. Martin couldn't have been more wrong. The show is a huge hit and we are left with a multitude of rich characters from which to select our favorite and least favorite individuals. Having had this discussion with a number of my friends who watch the show, I figured the best course of action would be to post my picks on the blog and get the discussion going among Throne fans everywhere. If you agree, let me know. If you disagree, post your picks. Remember, this is a discussion, not a lecture. Let's all start treating it that way.


5. Bronn as played by Jerome Flynn

Pound for pound, Bronn is by far the biggest bad ass on the show. Whether he's spitting out quick witted remarks or helping a small friend in need, Bronn wins over more fans each time he works his way into a scene. Refusing to give up on the 'loner' image, it's becoming increasingly evident that Bronn is not as stern as he appears on the outside. Playing the classic role of a 'jolly giant,' his tough exterior is only a facade to mask his compassionate, friendly core. There's nothing too cutting edge about Bronn, just plain, simple, and downright entertaining. Well deserving of the five spot.

4. Robb Stark as played by Richard Madden

Robb Stark's placement in the number 4 spot is less a knock on the quality of his character, and more a compliment to the characters that follow. Robb, in my opinion, is the one true hero of the series. What makes the show so interesting is the duality that each character displays, showing both flaws and attributes, alike. Robb, however, is more of a straight arrow. While some of the decisions he makes are rash and, often times, misguided, the intent is always well placed. We all make mistakes, but the driving force behind your thought process is what truly shapes your character. Robb Stark is as pure as they come, and a hell of a leader at that. THE KING IN THE NORTH!


3. Jaime Lannister as played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

A good show needs a good villain. Game of Thrones is a great show. Jaime Lannister is a great villain. Cunning, egocentric, and so damn hateable, Jaime is a true Lannister in every sense of the word. Sure he likes to sleep with his sister every now and then, but if I learned one thing from Anthropology 101, it's that we simply cannot judge other cultures through the eyes of our own. No matter how many times he pushes little children out of windows or brings evil, golden haired boy-kings into this world, we simply cannot judge. Maybe Mr. Lannister is just misunderstood.

P.S. what are the odds that he gets together with Brienne of Tarth at some point? I saw some serious chemistry there. Plus we all know he has a thing for angry blonds.


2. Arya Stark as played by Maisie Williams

I can't quite put my finger on what makes Arya Stark such a fan favorite, but I wholeheartedly agree. While child actors usually lack a certain level of talent for obvious reasons, every once in a while, someone will come along who transcends age. There is no point while watching Maisie act, that I think to myself, "She's pretty good for a young kid." She's just flat out good. And with a character arch like hers, it's impossible not to root for her success. She watched her dad die in front of her and had to cut off all her hair. Now she dresses like a boy, outsmarts her elders, and hatches clever little plans to get what she wants. Seemingly much smarter than most of her siblings, with the possible exception of Robb Stark, she will most likely grow up to be a great leader one day; if she grows up at all. By the way, I don't think there is a single character on the show that could make me more upset, should something bad happen to them. I'm 100% emotionally invested in young Arya Stark's journey to the top.


1. Tyrion Lannister as played by Peter Dinklage

My number one pick was a bit of a no-brainer and should come as no surprise to fans of the show. Tyrion Lannister is definitely the most recognizable face of the series and for good reason. Nobody rides the fence between good and evil better than Tyrion. He is, after all, a Lannister, but seemingly cast aside by his family, he also seems to hate the Lannisters. By far the smartest character on the show, Tyrion Lannister not only outsmarts his fellow Throne characters, but often times the audience, as he concocts master plans to further increase his position in this world. If Game of Thrones was a real game, Tyrion Lannister would definitely have a healthy lead, and for that reason, along with many others, he is well deserving of the number 1 spot in our countdown.

As I said before, whether you agree or disagree with this list, we want to hear your opinions. Please like/retweet, comment, and share this story! Follow the blog on twitter @RealRadioBlog and be sure to tune in for the season 3 premier of Game of Thrones, March 31st on HBO.

Talking Dead

Back in October, we did a write up on The Walking Dead, a highly realistic and extremely entertaining take on the zombie apocalypse genre. Currently in its third season, the show has been renewed for at least one more and has grown in popularity year after year. Recognizing The Walking Dead's potential for generating ratings, AMC developed a half hour talk show set to air directly after each new episode, discussing plot points, revealing behind the scenes information, and hosting a myriad of guests. Talking Dead began airing during season 2 of The Walking Dead and was later expanded from its half hour format to a full hour for its season 3 counterpart. The show has featured some pretty notable guests including Patton Oswalt, Kevin Smith, and Sarah Silverman, as well as a number of members of the cast and crew. What makes the guests so unique is their genuine love for The Walking Dead. They are all fans, more accurately junkies, who often site obscure references from old episodes or the graphic novels on which the show is based. No one seems to come on to simply promote whatever project they happen to be working on. This adds a very honest vibe to the whole production.

Chris Hardwick, who has done everything from stand up comedy to animated voice over work, is the host of Talking Dead. Between his reputation as comedy's resident nerd, his plethora of hosting gigs, and his little known/unexpected small roles in horror movies like House of 1000 Corpses and Halloween 2, Chris was the obvious candidate for the job. While it took me a little while before I finally began watching Talking Dead, I became an addict in no time at all. The show not only carries its own weight, but also greatly enhances The Walking Dead as well. For example, when series creator Robert Kirkman stops in, he will often give insight behind certain actions of the characters in the show. In addition, he'll occasionally slip in some carefully placed foreshadowing that teases future episodes while maintaining a certain air of mystery and suspense. Reoccurring segments like "In Memoriam" and the weekly online poll are always good for a laugh, while behind the scenes footage and fan questions provide a deeper look into the finer details of the show. It's gotten to the point where I look forward to Talking Dead as much as I do The Walking Dead. If you haven't checked it out, I strongly suggest you give it a shot. If you're looking for a test drive, I've included the premier episode, which aired after season 2: episode 1 of The Walking Dead. Be sure to tune in Sundays at 9 pm for The Walking Dead and Sundays at 10 pm for Talking Dead.

(Talking Dead Episode 1)

P.S. As Real Radio is primarily a hip hop blog, I feel compelled to include some sort of tie in, so here goes. Back in 2005, Chris Hardwick played host of "The Minstrel Show," on hip hop trio, Little Brother's second studio album. Check out Talking Dead host/aspiring hip hop hype man, Chris Hardwick, below.

(Little Brother - Minstrel Show Closing Theme feat. Chris Hardwick)

Saturday Night Live Performance Reviews

CLASS OF 2012

While it is still relatively early in these young SNL Careers, the world is beginning to get a look at who is going to break out and who is going to disappear before the next season. Here are their first year performance reviews.

Cecily Strong - Receiving by far the most air time out of any of the newbies, Strong has earned her way into the spotlight with hilarious characters, a wide range, and outstanding comedic timing. Her break out performance was her "Girl You Wish You Hadn't Started a Conversation With at a Party" character, featured on "Weekend Update." She completely nailed down a character that I have never seen acted out before, but have seen a million times in real life; the should-be goal of any SNL cast member.

Aidy Bryant - This is where we start to get into the unknown. With such a lack of exposure to the audience thus far, it is impossible to truly and fully judge Bryant's performance. On one hand, she has made me laugh on more than one occasion; on the other, it may have been the writers and not the actress who were truly responsible for the humor. If Aidy doesn't step up to the plate with a unique character or reoccurring sketch soon, she may become 2012-2013's one-and-done cast member.

Tim Robinson - Like Aidy Bryant, Robinson has had little television exposure as a rookie cast member. Unlike Bryant, I feel like he has made the most of it. He has been involved in some of the funniest moments of the season, however he is usually a role player, rather than the star of said moments. Nevertheless, I feel as if he could break out at any moment. He just needs that career defining sketch that fans can't get enough of. I look forward to seeing more of Tim Robinson in the future.

Kate Mckinnon - Mckinnon is by far the cast member I'm most hot and cold on. SNL has put her in more sketches than any of the rookies with the possible exception of Cecily Strong. At times she is very funny, like in her role as mediator for the "Vice Presidential Debate", but at other times I find her downright irritating. I'll admit, I felt the same way about Vanessa Bayer before she turned my opinion around, so I'm not going to give up on Mckinnon just yet. Plus, it seems as if she'll be around for a while.

CLASS OF 2010

The last incoming class of SNL cast members were introduced to the world back in 2010. While not all of the former newbies have lasted the past few years, three have survived and prospered. Here are their performance reviews.

Vanessa Bayer - Initially my least favorite cast member from this incoming class, Bayer has come a long way in three years. She is not only on-par with the rest of the class, but at times, she even outshines her costars. It took me a little while to get used to her style, but once I did, I have become a big fan.

Taran Killam - Taran Killam is not only my favorite new cast member, but he is second in line behind my current front runner, Mr. Bill Hader. A unique ability to make the audience erupt with a simple facial expression or one liner, Killam has natural talent combined with great timing and range, and it shows through. Nick Cannon and Amanda Bynes would be proud.

Jay Pharoah - With spot on impressions of Denzel Washington, Will Smith and others, Pharoah quickly rose to widespread popularity very early in his SNL career. Unfortunately, I feel as if he became too reliant on the impersonations that made him famous. It wasn't until his "Attention teachers and students!" bit that was tucked in at the very end of an episode that I began to see his potential. Since then, Pharoah has been a much more integral part of the cast, finally earning the role of President Barrack Obama, the next man in a long line of iconic presidential SNL characters.

Happy October 19th!

Community is back tonight! To get everybody excited for season 4, I have compiled the best promotions into one epic list. Tune in tonight at 8pm on NBC and let's help make this season the best one yet. Six seasons and a movie!


5. Changnesia

From Spanish teacher to outcast student; from security guard to evil dictator; from weird guy with no memory issues to weird guy with a serious case of Changnesia, Ken Jeong proves time and time again that he has more range than Tom Hanks, Daniel Day Lewis, and Leonardo DeCaprio combined.

4. The Hunger Deans

We all know Community is at it's best when they fully dive into an off-the-wall storyline i.e.Contemporary American Poultry, A Fistful Of Paintballs, and Pillows and Blankets. This episode should go down as one of the all time greats.

3. Study Hard

Today is a good day to study hard. Yippee ki yay Father Christmas. 

2. Odd Jobs

Nothing like taking some subtle shots at NBC. Conan and 30 Rock did a masterful job at such. Time for Community to carry the torch.

1. October 19th

From poking fun at the seemingly endless push backs and delays, to referencing fan-made flash mobs and Annie's Boobs new role on Animal Hospital, this promo has it all.

Community: "Welcome to our fourth season. We spoke to the powers that be and agreed to premier on October 19th."
NBC: "What powers that be? It's just the two of you pretending to have a show"
Community: "Heh, sometimes it feels that way. Honestly we don't do it for them, we do it for the fans."

Whoops, I may have screwed up who was responsible for those quotes. Oh well. Happy October 19th Everybody!

Top 5 Best Community Episodes of Season 3

We are currently one month away from the return of Community. Granted, this is assuming NBC doesn't move it back again or cancel it all together, but assuming network television does the right thing for once and keeps a great show on the air, (ahem Arrested Development...) we only have one month left! So, in honor of way too much time away from Greendale and, to be frank, a heavy dose of Community withdrawal, I've decided to post a top 5 countdown of the best episodes from season 3. I truly feel like every episode is brilliant and hilarious as Community is one of my favorite shows, so try not to be too disappointed if your pick does not appear on this list. If you are feeling passionate one way or the other, just post your top five in the comment section; I would love to see them. So without wasting too much more time, let's jump right in.


5. Pillows and Blankets

The best episodes of community are the ones in which they fully commit to a different format for the show. After Troy and Abed disagree about what to make their giant forts out of, pillows versus blankets, the dispute progresses into a war and hilarity ensues. The entire episode is shot like a Ken Burns style documentary, which is famous for the camera panning in or out on still photographs, making them seem more alive, in addition to the iconic narration. Community captures the style perfectly, and in my opinion, is well deserving of the top 5 countdown.

4. Digital Estate Planning

This episode simply had to be on this list, if for no other reason than it's sheer boldness. The vast majority of Digital Estate Planning is presented in the style of an 8 bit video game console, which even for Community, is a big risk. Risks like this are what have hurt Community in the ratings at times, while also making them a cult favorite with a small army of passionate fans. Another strength of Community is their ability to make amazing cultural references, and this episode is full of them. From detailing the instructions on finding Missingno, the famous glitch from early Pokemon Games, to referencing Crystal Meth, as the guest star is known for his role on Breaking Bad, this show embodies all that is community; clever plots, intelligent writing, and a willingness to take risks. Brilliant.

3. Documentary Filmmaking: Redux

Yet another brilliant episode. I'm running out of adjectives and we're only on number 3. When Dean Pelton, probably the most underrated character on the show, is tasked with creating a new commericial for Greendale College, Abed decides to film the process, simultaneously referencing Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse and Waiting for Guffman. I strongly suggest you watch one, if not both films to fully enjoy the cultural references in this episode. Although the ratings were less than spectacular, critics gave rave reviews calling this episode the reason why Community should not be canceled, as well as a perfect example of how only Community fans can love the show enough to appreciate this episode. If you've never seen Community before, I would not suggest starting with this one. Let's just say Documentary Filmmaking: Redux is for the more advanced viewer. You have to work up to it.

2. Regional Holiday Music

This season's Christmas episode, a spoof on Fox's Glee, may take the cake as the most full-of-references episode Community has ever done. The initial song features SNL's Taran Killam as "Mr. Rad," a spoof on Glee's Will Schuester and the lyrics cleverly explain the inherent silliness of the Fox hit series. Troy and Abed rap together on "Christmas Infiltration," no doubt an homage to Donald Glover's second career, rapping under the alias Childish Gambino. "Baby Boomer Santa" is rife with music references dating from the 1940s to the 1980s. Annie's "Teach Me How To Understand Christmas," is a play on Madonna's "Santa Baby." The song ends with Jeff saying "Look, eventually, you hit a point of diminishing returns on the sexiness," poking fun at the songs' baby-talk style. Finally, Shirley's "Happy Birthday Jesus" makes fun of the super-religious take on Christmas. Outside references include Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Star Wars Holiday Special. Everything from the Glee-like scene transitions, to the Kings of Leon/bullying reference, makes this episode a top pick. However, it is not THE top pick.

1. Remedial Chaos Theory

I chose "Remedial Chaos Theory" as the best episode of season 3 for a couple reasons. First of all, it's sheer density is impressive. In what only amounts to about  22 minutes of air time, viewers are left with a feeling that they just watched a full length feature film. In fact, I had to watch the episode a few times before I fully grasped all it had to offer. When a dice is rolled in order to determine who goes downstairs to meet the pizza delivery guy, Abed points out that 6 different timelines are now being created, as each number on the die leads to a different outcome. The second reason I chose this episode as the top pick was it's importance to the rest of the season. I believe that one of the best subplots of season 3 included Evil Abed and the darkest timeline, a story that began in this episode. One of the timelines was labeled 'the darkest' in which Jeff lost an arm, Pierce was shot and killed, Shirley became an alcoholic, Annie went to a mental hospital, Troy lost the ability to speak, and Britta put a purple streak in her hair. At this point, Troy and Abed vow to break into the other timeline and take over the good as 'Evil Troy and Evil Abed.'


The intelligence Community demands of its audience is commendable and far too uncommon. While so many shows allow the audience to tune in inconsistently, tell them when to laugh with a laugh track, or use 'documentary style story telling' to explain complicated plot points in an easy to understand way, Community tirelessly runs from the norm. They vary their format, dive deep into ingenious plot-lines, and continue to challenge their audience to pay attention and look for more out of network television shows. Not only should Community not be canceled, but it should be the most popular show on television. Although, I will admit there is a certain charm to the majority not fully 'getting it.' As with all cult favorites, the alienation of the fan base is a big part of what makes the smaller group so passionate. So in a world where shows can be saved by flash mobs and email campaigns, let's just hope that the firing of 'captain of the ship,' Dan Harmon doesn't ruin a good thing, and that Community finally gets the appreciation it deserves! #SixSeasonsAndAMovie

A Mass Effect: Television's Impact on American Culture (Conclusion)

The final, arguably most important impact that television has had on our culture is its double sided effect on our fears, attitude towards violence and overall values. Television programming and news stations often paint a picture of the world as a terrifying, violent place. This creates an inflated sense of fear among viewers while also desensitizing the public to violence and cruelty. Research shows that heavy television viewers perceive that world as a much more dangerous place than those people who don’t watch nearly as much television. When the evening news comes on TV, the majority of the stories are saturated with crime and violence. Such stories often times result in a spike in ratings and viewership, especially among viewers who watch television later at night. (1990: 93) “Violence and other adult themes increase with the hour. The 8 o’clock (news) has more violence than the two earlier ones, and 10 P.M. programs have even more.”

The violence doesn’t stop at the news. American television programs are notorious for containing scenes of violence, especially in prime-time slots. In a study done by Gerbner in 1985, data shows that five to six violent acts per hour were found in prime-time television shows, often times within some sort of action series. Today, shows that air on premium networks like HBO and Showtime are often extremely violent, holding little to nothing back in the department of blood and core. Shows like Dexter, where the main character is a serial killer and Boardwalk Empire, which chronicles the violent lives of prohibition gangsters, build every episode around violence. It is not rare to see a couple murders, often times detailed and gruesome, in each episode. Violent programming is not limited to such channels, however. Network television features increasingly graphic shows, as well. Law & Order: SVU (Special Victims Unit, is a show the follows the cases of a crime unit in New York Police Department, who specialize in special cases, nearly always involving some combination of rape, murder, and assault. For years, this show has aired in prime-time weeknight time slots; currently airing on Wednesdays at 9 P.M. SVU is just one example of violent network television programming. Others include Revolution, a post-apocalyptic setting riddled with fight scenes and killing, 666 Park Avenue, a show that falls in the horror genre rife with violent murders and references to the devil, and NCIS, a show much like Law & Order where the writers serve up stories about abductions, sexual assault, and child pornography. All three shows air on different networks, NBC, ABC, and CBS respectively and all have a rating of TV-14, indicating that they are not appropriate for children under the age of 14. It is safe to assume, however, that simply flashing a rating on the top corner of the TV screen at the beginning of an episode is going to do very little in the way of deterring underage viewers.

Now that we’ve established the fact that violence exists on TV, the next step is to weigh the consequences of such. There are conflicting schools of thought on whether or not media violence has a positive correlation with real life violence or not. In a study done by Neil Malamuth of the University of California, Malamuth states that (1990: 99) “steady viewing of graphic violence, including sexual assault, was associated with greater tolerance for and less disapproval of rape and wife-beating.” According to Smith, “the evidence is becoming overwhelming that just as witnessing violence in the home may contribute to normal adults and children learning and acting out violent behavior, violence on TV and movies may lead to the same result.” Not everyone is so convinced however. Freedman sees that there is a slight correlation between TV violence and aggression, but not enough to positively determine that Tv violence is the cause of increased aggression. According to Freedman, “Something in their personalities or behavioral patterns, some predisposition, trait, combination of environmental pressures, learning history, or whatever, causes people to like aggressive programming and also to be aggressive.” Freedman feels that a clear determination between whether the violent television leads to an aggressive personality or if the aggressive personality draws the person to violent television cannot be made. Personally, I have to side with Malamuth and Smith on this particular issue. It seems intuitive to think that a person who is exposed to violence in the media is going to be desensitized to violence in real life; if for no other reason than the fact that if a horrific event happens to them or they pay witness to such an event, a person familiar with seeing such events on TV will likely be able to cope with the trauma by mentally reverting to the comfort of their homes, sitting in front of a TV screen.

The specific areas of life affected in addition to the extent of the impact have been debated for years. Naturally, a medium as intrusive and extensively involved in American life will have long term consequences on the way people act, think, and perceive. Learned television watching behaviors, such as eating, talking, and going to the bathroom whenever you please often translate into other areas of life, going from strictly an action performed in the privacy of our homes to an action performed in movie theatres, lecture halls, and office buildings. Culture, which according to its definition includes learned, shared understandings, has been forever changed as the mass media has the ability to spread a message to people from all walks of life, affecting the collective knowledge that we, as a people, share with one another. Finally and most importantly, television affects the way we think, especially in reference to violence. We have been desensitized due to the scheduling of violent programming in addition to a focus on violence in news broadcasts. Countless examples and various studies have been performed testing all sorts of different theories out about what the long term effects of such a dominating invention will have on our society, yielding a lot of different results. The one constant that remains, however, is that there are some definite effects; strong ones at that. The mass effect of television on our culture cannot be taken lightly, and an ever-continuing research effort is a must for the better understanding of such a powerful tool.

A Mass Effect: Television's Impact on American Culture (How We Think and Act)

Television habits that we practice at home are translated into other areas of our lives. For example, talking while watching television is extremely common. ‘Stage IV’ viewers often converse with other people in the room as they watch television. This behavioral pattern has translated to other places including, but not limited to, the movie theatre, the classroom, and the work environment.

People also tend to execute their freedom to get up and go to the bathroom whenever they please, yet another trend that has translated from an in-home habit to one that is demonstrated in public. Students often get up in the middle of class and walk out, without saying a word, in order to use the bathroom. Just like a television program only holds part of our attention, as does the actor on the movie screen or the professor in the classroom. This is the direct result of shorter attention spans, a behavior developed over time as focus on the television becomes less constant. Kottak states that these people (1990: 4) “intend no disrespect. They are simply transferring a home-grown pattern of snack-and-bathroom break from family room to classroom. They perceive nothing unusual in acting the same way in front of a live speaker and fellow students as they do when they watch television.”

In addition to the way we act, television affects the way we think. According to Thinking Like An Anthropologist: A Practical Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, written by John T. Omohundro, culture is defined as (2008: 27) “the learned, shared understandings among a group of people about how to behave and what everything means.” There is a minimal effect from any single show, just as a show cannot tell a person exactly how to feel. It is important to focus in on television as a whole rather than a series of individual parts. The collective exposure to television in combination with the pervasiveness of the media lead to a complete redefinition of the common knowledge we share with our fellow Americans. Television does not discriminate against a particular segment of the population, but rather spreads the same exact product to every single viewer all at one time. In the words of Kottak, (1990: 7) “Televiewing encompasses men and women of different ages, colors, classes, ethnic groups, and levels of educational achievement. Television is seen in cities, suburbs, towns and country – by farmers, factory workers, and philosophers.” There is simply no other means for delivering the same consistent message to this amount of people from all different walks of life. The result is a change in our interpretation and expectation of the world around us. In order for such a massive change to take place across the board, there must be a shared knowledge held by all members within such a culture. For example, football is a popular sport because most of the people who watch it understand the rules of the game. (Kottak 1990: 43) “Such mass knowledge contrasts with the privileged expertise and resultant prestige of professionals such as lawyers and economists. An activity’s clarity democratizes it.” In other words, mass knowledge delivered via the television set, settles into the collective consciousness of the public, which, in turn, creates a feeling of comradery and enjoyment.

Every time you hear a person spit out a quote from South Park, a cartoon show on Comedy Central, followed by a group of people laughing at the quote, you are experiencing the aforementioned comradery and enjoyment. Part of the enjoyment revolves around the humor in the words themselves, while the other part is the collective recognition and understanding shared by those involved. Another example of shared knowledge leading to joy is in the form of references and call backs. Often times television programs will make a reference to some other event and there, in itself, lies the joke. For example, Community, a prime-time sitcom on NBC, features a reference to the movie Beetlejuice. In the movie, saying the word ‘Beetlejuice’ three times summons the monster from his grave. In Community the word Beetlejuice is worked into the conversation on three separate occasions over the course of the show, and on the third time, a man dressed as Beetlejuice walks by in the background. There is no punch line here other than the fact that a cleverly written reference is being made, and yet, nearly 1.5 million people viewed the clip on YouTube, proving that there is a certain level of enjoyment in the sharing of a common knowledge.